Oak Hill Park
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Oak Hill Park (OHP) is part of the Oak Hill, village of Newton, Massachusetts and borders the West Roxbury section of Boston. It is currently bordered by Mount Ida College to its northwest and Mt. Lebanon Cemetery to its southeast.
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[edit] History
In the late 1940's, what was once an isolated sand and gravel pit became an attractive development of 412 homes - Oak Hill Park. Built originally to accommodate returning Newton World War II veterans and their young families, one-story, three bedroom houses were constructed on concrete slabs with radiant heating - construction atypical of New England and initially viewed with suspicion by some. This suspicion was apparently unwarranted since the market value of some of the original houses is now over $450,000. The cost of a "Basic House" was $7,820; but a homeowner could also add cedar shingles for $319.00; cedar clapboards with gypsum sheathing ($247.00); a breezeway-type porch without a garage ($325.00) or with a garage ($1,250.00); or a detached garage ($925.00). Some homeowners took advantage of these extras when they selected their houses, but others chose to wait and made additions to their houses at a later date.
Shortly after the veterans moved in, they formed the Oak Hill Park Association, which dealt with the city and developers, published a monthly newsletter and became the dominant social and political force in the community. The new residents built a playground, planted trees and helped each other build additions to their homes. They put on shows and plays, had block parties and barbecues, and would always be available to help one another. Because of the many children in the area, the Memorial School (now Solomon Schechter Day School) was built.
The shopping center was later added to OHP and became a vital place to gather for both shopping and socializing. During the period of the 1950s and 1960s most mothers were "at home" and most families had one car, if any. On any day of the week, one could see many moms and children walking, playing, visiting, shopping, etc.,- a real neighborhood atmosphere and a wonderful place to raise a family. The location was convenient to downtown Boston, while the feeling of the Park was very suburban. Today, OHP remains a "neighborhood" in an age when many have disappeared. Its residents comprise a congenial mixture of ethnic and economic backgrounds, ages, vocations, interests and talents.
[edit] Neighborhood Preservation and Development
OHP bought up park land along the Charles River to protect it from development, as well as building the Shuman Centre, a small house-like building close to the shopping center. This served as a community center and home for the now closed branch library (once located at the northern end of the shopping center, and later in Room 8 of Memorial School). OHP also successfully stopped development on an extension of Saw Mill Brook Parkway that would have connected with the Wells Office Park and sent rush hour traffic zipping through the heart of OHP.
With further development of the areas over the years, the OHPA has embraced the later developed streets located between Wiswall Rd. and Spiers Rd., including the south side of Dedham St. The OHPA now includes 650 families.
While the shopping center no longer has a grocery store (first Market Basket, then Prime Food Market), a pharmacy (Oak Park Pharmacy), a dry cleaners (Chiswick Cleaners) or a gas station (The Prioli Brothers), it does now have a pizza parlor (which delivers), a hair salon and a plumber, as well as condominiums. The western end of Saw Mill Brook Parkway leads to walking trails along the Charles River, eventually leading south to West Roxbury's Millennium Park. Boundary markers for the old Newton Water Works can be found in this area, which is an excellent destination for those wishing to view typical glacial topography -- eskers, drumlins, kettle holes and moraines abound. Transmitter towers for WUNR radio (once WVOM, aznd later WBOS, at 1600 kHz) are located at the edge of this land, just off Spiers Road and Saw Mill Brook Parkway.
[edit] Street and Path Names
Oak Hill Park is a living memorial to World War II veterans. The streets and paths were named for Newton veterans who gave their lives in World War II. From 261 servicemen, the 33 names now identified with this area were drawn impartially. The Memorial School was dedicated in honor of the remaining "unsung heroes".
From 261 servicemen, the 33 names now identified with this area were drawn impartially:
Joseph T. Antonellis (1916-1944) Corporal, US Army Chemical Warfare
George L. Avery (1925-1945)
Peter A. Bontempo (1922-1945) Pfc., US Army
Albert T. Caldon (1918-1944) Corporal, US Army
William F. Callahan, Jr. (1920-1945) 2nd Lieut., 85th Mt. Infantry Reg. (the Callahan Tunnel in Boston was also named after him)
John L. Caulfield (1917-1944) 1st Lieut., US Army (KIA, Omaha Beach)
Paul R. Cavanaugh (1921-1944)
Sarkis Chinian (1924-1945) PFC., US Marine Corp.
Harvey J. Cibel (1918-1943) 2nd Lieut., USAAF
Russell C. Colella (1913-1944)
Wilfred B. Considine (1920-1944) Tech Sgt.
Lawrence Early (1896-1944) Capt., US Army
Francis A. Fredette (1906-1944) CM 1/c US Navy
Robert M. Hanson (1922-1944) 1st Lieut', USMC Aviation (Medal of Honor)
John S. Hay (1921-1943) AAF
Mainolph Valen Pappius (1899-1945) Cmdr, MC USNR (Flight Surg.)
H. Russell Keller, Jr. (1916-1942) Lieut., US Naval Aviation
William J. Kerr (1921-1942) Electrician's Mate, 3/c US Navy
Francis P. McCarthy (1917-1942) Capt., USMC Aviation (Dist. Fly. Crs)
William E. Nightingale (1924-1945) Flight Officer RCAF
Frederick P.O'Connell (1921-1944) Corp., VMCR Class III-C
John J. O'Rourke (1908-1942) Pfc., Specialist 5/c
William H. Osborne (1913-1945) Sgt., USAAF
Robert Shumaker (1924-1944) Ensign, US Naval Aviation - 2nd Lt. USMC (NAVC)
George B. Shute (1923-1945) Private, US Army
William A. Spiers (1924-1944) Co. C 101st
Frederick H. Timson, Jr. (1906-1945) Pvt. USAAF
Nicholas Tocci (1920-1945) Private US Army
Hugh Van Roosen (1922-1943) Grad. Annapolis- Lt. JG USN ([[Purple Heart]] and Navy Cross)
Paul H. Van Wart (1922-1945) Sgt., USAAF
George E. Walsh (1906-1945) Private, US Army
Frank W. Young, Jr. (1912-1944) Sgt., US Army {Massachusetts-geo-stub}}
[edit] Famous Residents
Rebecca Rabino
[edit] See also
History of Oak Hill Park [[1]]
